Chamaecyparis plant named ‘FARROWCGMS’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct Chamaecyparis cultivar named ‘FARROWCGMS’ is disclosed, characterized by yellow, yellow green and green foliage. Plants are full and have a compact, semi-dwarf pyramidal habit. Foliage is arranged in tightly held scales, forming an attractive texture. Plants exhibit rapid growth. Foliage color is maintained throughout Winter. The new cultivar is a Chamaecyparis, suitable for ornamental garden purposes.

Latin name of the genus and species: Chamaecyparis pisifera.

Variety denomination: ‘FARROWCGMS’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The new cultivar is a product of chance discovery by the inventor, Michael W. Farrow. This new variety, hereinafter referred to as ‘FARROWCGMS’, was selected as a naturally occurring branch mutation from the parent Chamaecyparis pisifera ‘Golden Mop’, unpatented. The novel variety was discovered in a commercial nursery in Warwick, Md. during 2010.

After identifying the new variety as a potentially interesting selection, first propagation of ‘FARROWCGMS’ occurred by softwood cuttings at a commercial nursery in Warwick, Md. in 2012. The inventor continued controlled testing and propagation, assessing stability of the unique characteristics of this variety. Five generations have been reproduced and have shown that the unique features of this cultivar are stable and reproduced true to type.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar ‘FARROWCGMS’ has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment such as temperature, day length, and light intensity, without, however, any variance in genotype. The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘FARROWCGMS’ These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘FARROWCGMS’ as a new and distinct Chamaecyparis cultivar:

-   -   1. Very full plants.     -   2. Good Summer and Winter color.     -   3. Attractive foliage texture with tightly held scales.     -   4. Semi-dwarf plant with a compact, pyramidal shape.     -   5. Fast growth rate.

COMMERCIAL COMPARISON

‘FARROWCGMS’ can be compared to the commercial variety Chamaecyparis pisifera ‘RIKACPMC’ application Ser. No. 15/530,102. The varieties are similar in most horticultural characteristics, however, plants of ‘FARROWCGMS’ differ in the following ways:

-   -   1. New cultivar yellow throughout; comparator has yellow tips.     -   2. New cultivar is more upright growing; comparator grows         outward.

PARENTAL COMPARISON

‘FARROWCGMS’ can be compared to the parent Chamaecyparis pisifera ‘Golden Mop’. The varieties are similar in most horticultural characteristics, however, plants of ‘FARROWCGMS’ differ in the following ways:

-   -   1. New cultivar is more compact and triangular; parent is         shaggier with a more spreading habit.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photograph in FIG. 1 illustrates in full color a typical plant of ‘FARROWCGMS’ grown outdoors in Grand Haven, Mich. Plants in FIG. 1 are approximately 5 years old, and exhibit the characteristic full, compact and pyramidal growth.

FIG. 2 illustrates a close-up view of the foliage. The photographs were taken using conventional techniques and although colors may appear different from actual colors due to light reflectance it is as accurate as possible by conventional photographic techniques.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart 2015 except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used. The following observations and measurements describe ‘FARROWCGMS’ plants grown in a poly greenhouse during Summer, in Grand Haven, Mich. USA. The growing temperature ranged from 18° C. to 27° C. during the day and from 5° C. to 10° C. during the night. General light conditions are natural sunlight. Measurements and numerical values represent averages of typical plant types.

-   Botanical classification: Chamaecyparis pisifera ‘FARROWCGMS’.

PROPAGATION

-   Typical method: Softwood cuttings. -   Time to initiate rooting: 120 days at approximately 10° C. -   Time to produce a rooted young plant: 180 days at approximately     10° C. to 13° C. -   Root description: Fine and fleshy roots present. Moderately well     branched. Colored light brown, not accurately measured with an     R.H.S. chart.

PLANT

-   Age of plant described: 2 to 3 years. -   Container size of plant described: 3 gallon. -   Growth habit: Evergreen tree, slightly mounding in juvenility, then     growing upright. -   Height: 87 cm. -   Plant spread: 79 cm. -   Typical growth rate: Rapid. Average growth per year ranges between     1.5 to 2.5 feet, depending upon environmental conditions. -   Branching characteristics: Upright and outwards. -   Angle: 5 to 85°. -   Quantity of lateral branches: 14. -   Length of lateral branches: 46 cm. -   Diameter of lateral branches: 1 cm. -   Lateral branch shape: Round. -   Stem strength: Strong. -   Stem color: Greyed-Orange 177 C. -   Internode length: Average 2 cm. -   Trunk bark:     -   -   Color.—Near RHS Greyed-Orange 177A.         -   Texture.—Rough, scaly.

FOLIAGE

-   General description: Overlapping scales. -   Leaf:     -   -   Arrangement.—Overlapping scales.         -   Shape of blade.—Scale-like.         -   Apex.—Acute.         -   Base.—Cuneate.         -   Margin.—Entire.         -   Texture of top surface.—Smooth, moderately glossy.         -   Texture of bottom surface.—Smooth, moderately glossy.         -   Foliage color.—Varies with light exposure along branch.             Foliage on lower section of branch receives less light. Top             of branch leaves, upper: Majority of surface Yellow 7A,             small lower section near Yellow-Green N144C. Top of branch             leaves, under: Majority of surface Yellow 7A, lower section             near Yellow-Green N144C. Middle branch leaves, upper: Mostly             Yellow-Green N144C, with some Yellow-Green 7A. Middle branch             leaves, under: Yellow-Green 143C with some Yellow Green 145A             at the tips. Lower, interior branch leaves, upper: Green             141B. Lower, interior branch leaves, under: Green 141B.         -   Venation.—Not observable.         -   Fragrance.—Not observed.

FLOWER

-   Flowering not observed.

OTHER CHARACTERISTICS

-   Disease and pest resistance: Neither resistance nor susceptibility     observed. -   Drought tolerance: No tolerance for drought. -   Temperature tolerance: −32 to 36 degree C. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Chamaecyparis plant named ‘FARROWCGMS’ as herein illustrated and described. 